Golf-ball-teeing device



Dec.- 11, 1928. 1,695,006

I G. J. BROCKHAGEN GOLF BALL TEEING/ DEVICE Filed March 1 2 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 650/96! JB/TOLWHAE/V ($.47 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z///////%%/%/7/////////////////////////////////////// G. J. BROCKHAGEN sow BALL TEEING DEVICE Filed March a, 1928 V a a Dec. 11, 1928 0 4 w IIH. v a w 45m R w ail. i W 1 0/ m w .1 4/ 1 m S, n H u w% w WI Z b i f, z. U f lm 6 W W a W W W W a a W a w 0 5 74 40 .IY my4 a 0 f a %& @H W 4W a w MW w gwjfw Dec. 11, 1928. 1,695,006

' G. J. BROCKHAGEN GOL F BALL TEEING DEVICE .2? Filed 1.92% 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 kW//////////////////////// 7Q 47 {f Z? INVE TOR 65056: J 5/? H4625 WITNESS Patented Dec. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES GEORGE J". BROGKHAGEN, OF BROOKLYN,

NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO EUGENE Ii. BROCKHAGEN, 0F BROOKLYN, YORK.

GOLF-BALL-TEEII TG DEVICE.

Application filed March 8, 1928. Serial No. 260,162.

The present invention relates to golf ball teeing devices by means of which the conditions under which a golf ball is driven from a tee or on the fairway may be simulated.

The primary object of my invention 18 to provide a golf ball teeing device of improyed construction whereby golf balls may be withdrawn from a reservoir or hopper in an automatic or a semi-automatic manner and presented one at a time into position to be drlven by a golf club in the hands of one properly stationed for this purpose.

One of the objectsof my invention is to provide means of improved construction for presenting balls at dilierent heights above the floor or other surrounding surface for the purpose of reproducing at a practice station. the different elevations with respect to the tee or fairway from which the golf balls may be driven.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide an in'iproved automatic drive for a periodically operated device of this character as well as improved means for controlling the operation. thereof.

Other and further objects of my invention will he understood from the following speciiication and appended claims, reference being had the accompanying drawings which illustrate a p referred eml'iodiment of the underlying principles of said invention.

in the drawings Figure 1. a plan view of a preferred embodiment of my improved golf ball teeing device, parts being broken away.

Figure is enlarged section corresponding to the line 22, of Figure 1.

F ure 3 is an enlarged section corresponding to the line 2-32-l, of Figure 1.

Figure 4% is a section on the line as, of Fi ure 1 with the several parts shown in their reihtive positions to simulate conditions under which a golf ball driven from a tee.

Figure 5 is a section similar to Figure 4: with the parts shown in their relative positions to simulate conditions under which a b: .l is driven on the fairway.

ure (i a section similar to Figures 4 w a with the parts shown in their relative 'ons at the time the golf tee is reloaded. r igin'e 'i" is an enlarged section correspondin to the line ZT, of F igure 4.

igure 8 is an enlarged section correspondn; the line 8-8, of Figure l.

Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical section corresponding to the line 9-9, of Figure 4.

Figure is an enlarged section corresponding to the line 10-10, of Figure l- Figure 11 is a section on the line 1111, of Figure 10.

According to the embodiment of my invention shown on the drawings, a motor 1 which is provided with a rotor shaft 2 opcrates through a sprocket pinion 3 to drive a sprocket chain l which, as shown in Figures 1 and '7, passes over a sprocket wheel 5 keyed to a worm shaft 6 which carries a worm '1'. The worm 7 meshes With a worm wheel 8 keyed to a cam shaft 9 journalled in bearings 10 and 11. Splined to the cam shaft 9 in such a way as to be reciprocable thereon while being forced to rotate therewith, is a cam arm 12- which comprises a high portion 13 and a low portion let with an attached shifting spool 15 by means of which said cam arm may be shifted on the shaft 9 by means of an arm 16 which is keyed to an oscillatory shaft 17 mounted in bearings 18, 19 and 20 which project laterally from a main frame 21.

As shown in Figures 4. and S of the drawhugs, the oscillatory shaft 17 has keyed thereto a cam setting lever 22 which is provided above with an arcuate tread 23 suitably disposed to be shifted by the foot of one who is using the device. The cam setting lever 22 is provided with a bent arm 24 which carries a laterally presented pin 25 through which projects one end of a spring rod 26, the other end of said spring rod being movably supported on a post 27 between which and the oscillatory pin 25 is arranged a compression spring 28. It will be understood from this description that the spring 28 will impart a bias to the shifting lever 22 in either of two opposite extreme positions which may be assumed by this lever.

Referring now to Figures 4, 5 and 6, the main frame 21 is provided with an upright member 21 which carries a stud 29. Pivotally mounted upon this stud is a cam lever comprising a cam arm 30 and a plunger operating arm 81. By an inspection of Figure 7, it will be seen that in one position of the cam arm 12', the high portion 13 of the cam will be positioned in a plane of movement to cooperate with the cam arm 30, whereas in its opposite extreme position, the

l 7 .il.

low portion 14 will be operative in a plane to engage thecam arm 30. These respective positions of the cam arm correspond to relatively high and low positions in which the golf ball tee is presented, as hereinafter explained. The lever arm 31 of the cam lever is provided with a slot 32 within which slides a wrist pin 33 which is arranged transversely with respect to a slot formed in the lower end of a plunger block 34. The plunger block 34 reciprocates in a vertical housing 35, the upper end of said plunger block being provided with laterally spaced lugs 36 which carry a transverse pin 37. Pivotally mounted upon the pin 37 is the squared lower end 38 of a post or tee 39 which is provided at its upper end with a cupped receptacle 40 for a golf ball B. A curved projection 41 is formed rigidly with the tee 39 and conforms to the con-tour of golf ball B so that whenever a golf ball is driven therefrom, the golf tee will be moved to the left, according to Figure 4, in a manner to initiate another cycle of movements to present another golf ball in position to be struck.

Referring now more especially to- Figure 11, the plunger block 34 is provided above with a latch plate 42, said latch plat-e being arranged to be engaged by an upper pawl 43 which is pivoted on a pin 44 and subjected to the pressure of a torsion spring 45 which tends to retain the pawl 43 in the path of latch plate 42. The inner extremity of the pawl 43 is provided with a beveled under edge 43 which adapts saidpawl to be displaced outwardly by the plunger block on the upward movements thereof. A lower pawl 46 which is mounted on a pivot 47 under the action of a torsion spring 48, is adapted to engage the latch plate 42 for holding the plunger block at a lower elevation to which it has been raised when the lower cam portion 14 of cam arm 12 is operative upon the cam arm 30 of the cam lever. The lower pawl 46 is also provided with an under beveled edge 46 so as to permit it to be displaced outwardly by latch-plate 42 on each upward movement of the plunger block 34. Said lower pawl is also provided with a tail arm 49 arranged to be engaged by a radial pin 17 which projects from the oscillatory shaft 17 so that when said shaft is oscillated during the prearrangement of the higher portion 13 of cam 12 with respect to the cam arm 30 of the cam lever, the lower pawl 46 will be retracted out of the path of the latch plate 42 on the downward movement of the plunger block 34. In order to provide suit able means for moving either one or the other of pawls 43 and 46 to release position by means of the upsetting of tee 394 the upper end of plunger block 34 is provided with a groove 34 within which is reciproca-bly mounted a slide 50. Saidslide carries an upwardly presented cam plate 51 which is disposed to be displaced toward the right, according to Figure 11, by the lower end 3 of the tee 39 whenever said tee is upset. As shown in Figure 11, the slide 50 is reciprocable in a plane immediately below the latch plate 42, said slide being provided with an integral flange 52 adapted and arranged to engage the tip end. of pawl 43 or 46 and to dis place said pawl outwardly from under the latchplate42 so as to permit the plunger block 34 to returnto loadingposition after each'drive has been made. Depending from the slide 50 is a post 53 to which is connected one end of a spring 54, the other end of said spring being connected to a fixed post 55 which is carried by a rigid portion of the plunger block 34. Said spring 54 tends to hold said slide 50 in its extreme left-hand position and serves to maintain the cam-plate 51 in abutment with the. reduced lower ene 38 of tee 39 during its upsetting and resetting movements. As shown in Figure 1, the inner wall of housing 35 is provided with vertically arranged guide rails 35 for properly constraining the vertical movements of the plunger block 34. As said plunger block falls, the shank portion of tee 39 strikes a guard rail 18 to initiate a return of tee 39 to upright position as determined by a lined stop or cross-bar 38 against which the lower reduced end 36 of tee 39 is yieldably retained by the cam-plate 51 under the action of spring 54. Simple and effective nice for making slight adjustments in the vertical. positions of the plunger block 34 may be provided by corresponding adjustments in the relative effective length of the c; in-arm 30 with respect to the load arm 31 of the camlever. For this purpose, the pivot 29 may be provided with an eccentric bearing 29 which, by an angular adjustment about the axis of pivot 29, can be made to vary the amount of throw imparted by the arm 31 to the plunger block 34.

As shown in Figures 1 and 9, a chute or hopper 56 which is arranged to contain a supply of golf balls B, is inclined downwardly toward the vertical housing 35 and communicates therewith through an opening 5? on a suitable level to deliver a golf ball to the cup 40 whenever the tee 39 is in its lowermost position. Movable through an opening 56 in the bottom wall of chute 56, is a reciprocable slide or stop 58 which is retained in slidable engagement with the lateral wall of housing 35 by means of an upper strap 59 and a lower strap 60. The slide 58 is provided with an inwardly deflected lower end 58 which is arranged in the path of the plunger block 34 so that whenever said plunger descends, it is adapted to draw the slide 58 downwardly against the tension of a spring 61 which is connected at its upper end to a screw 62 and at its lower end to a post 63 carried by the slide 58.

It Will be understood from the foregoing description that after each upward movement of the plunger block 34 which elevates the tee 39, these parts are latched in their raised positions until the golf ball B has been driven from the tee, the upsetting of said tee serving to release the latch for permitting a downward return of the tee into loading position.

In order to adapt my improved device for automatically presenting another golf ball after each drive, I provide suitable circuit connections for the electric motor including a suitable switch which may be operated to start the motor 1 as the plunger block moves downwardly into loading position and to stop said motor as the plunger block rises to either of its upper positions. For this purpose, a. make and break switch of the type shown in Figure 3 may be employed. As shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, a double wire cable 64 com prises a section 64 which may be connected up with an ordinary electric light socket and a section 64* which may be connected up to the motor 1. One of the wires of this double Wire cable is severed, the severed ends thereof being connected to plate contacts 65 and 66. Said plate contacts are arranged parallel to each other on opposite sides of a non-conducting ad 67. As shown in Figure 3, the plate contact 66 does not show as it is hidden partly by the pad 67 and partly by the nearer plate contact 65. The non-conducting pad 67 is formed in such a manner as to provide an arcuate guide or rail 67 for a spool-shaped contact roll 68 which is adapted in its lower po .sition to contact with and bridge the. gap between the upper ends of plate contacts 65 and 66. As shown in Figure 3, the roll contact 68 is mounted in a suitable non-conducting support 69 provided with a slotted shank 70 in which a transverse pin 71 is adapted to articulate and slide whenever the switch is shifted. The transverse pin 71 is carried by a projecting finger 72 of a switch lever 73 which is pivoted at 74 and provided with a power arm 75 to which is connected the upper end of air actuating rod 76. Said actuating rod is reciprocably mountedin an eyeleted lug 77 carried by the plunger-operating arm 81 of the cam-lever and is provided with spaced abut-ments 78 and 79 whereby the switch lever 7 3 may be alternately thrown into circuitmaking and circuit-breaking positions. Interposed between the switch-finger 72 and the enlarged end of the contact roll support 69, is a compression spring 80 which operates to impart a snap to the switch whenever the pin 71 passes the line of thrust between switch pivot 7 4 and the center of roll contact 68.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the shaft 2 of motor 1 is provided with a braking drum 81 about which extends a brake-band 82 which may be yieldably clamped to said drum by means of a braking lever 83 to the power arm of which is connected one end of a flexible cord 84;. Said cord extends around guide pulleys 85 and 86 and is connected at its other end to an adjustable bolt 87 carried by the arm 31 of the cam lever. The several parts of this braking device may be so adjusted with respect to the momentum of motor 1 in motion that the cam arm 12 may be made to come to rest in an upwardly-presented position after each operation of the device as indicated in Figure 6.

As indicated on the drawings, the entire device is arranged below a floor or platform F upon which the user stands when he is practicing the strokes on successively presented balls, the arcuate tread 23 of shift lever 22, however, being slightly elevated above the upper surface of said floor or platform.

The operation of my improved golf ball teeing device will now be readily understood and briefly described is as follows. hen it is desired to practice the stroke employed in driving 0d from a tee, the several parts being in their relative positions shown in Figure 6, the foot lever 22 is shifted to throw tl e high portion 18 of cam 12 over the canr arm 30 of the cam lever. Motor 1 now being started and a golf ball B having been charged into the cup 4:0, the ensuing upward n e-- ment of plunger-operating lever 31 moves the golf ball B to uppermost position as shown in Figure 1. During this upward movement of the plunger block 341, the slide 58 is permitted to move upwardly to crowd back the golf balls remaining in chute The teed golf ball as it is driven from the tee, upsets the latter which displaces the latching pawl 4-33 and permits the plunger block to descend. During its downward. movement, the tee 3-3?) is moved into its upright position by coming into engagen'ient with the guard rail 86 shown in Figures 4:, 5 and 6 when it is in readiness to receive the next golf ball which is delivered thereto from the chute 56. lVhile the device is being operated in this manner, the lower pawl i6 is held out of the path of the latching plate 42 by means of the radial pin 17 carried by oscillatory shaft 17, said lower pawl being displaced by said pin during the presetting of cam 12. In order to practice driving from the fairway, it is only necessary to set the cam 12 with its lower portion 1s over cam arm 80 of the cam lever whereupon the device operates in manner similar to that described above except that the golf balls B are presented at the upper surface of the floor or platform F, the lower pawl 4:6 becoming operative in connection with the latch plate 42.

I claim z--- 1. In an automatic golf ball teeing device, the combination with a golf ball support movable into and out of position to present a golf ball to be driven, said golf ball support being under a normal tendency to depart from 1 said position, means under the control of said golf ball support and releasable under the driving pressure exerted by said ball for retaining said golf ball support in said position, and means for delivering a golf ball to said golf ball support when it is away from said position.

2. In an automatic golf ball teeing device, the combination with a golf ball support movable into and out of either of two different positions to present a golf ball to be driven, said golf ball. support when releasedheing under a normal tendency to depart from suit position, means under the control of said 1. ball support and releasable under the driving pressure exerted by said ball for ret" ining said golf ball support in either of said positions, and means for delivering a golf ball to said golf ball support.

3. In an automatic golf ball teeing device, the combination with a golf ball support movable from loading position to a position to present a golf ball for driving, said ball support when released being under a normal tendency to depart from the last-mentioned position, means under the control of said golf ball support and releasable under the driving pressure exerted by said ball for retaining said golf ball support in position for driving, means for delivering golf balls to said golf ball support in loading pos' on and means under the control of its vn movement toward loading position for returning said golf ball support to presenting position.

l. In an automatic golf ball teeing device,

'the combination with a golf ball support,

movable into and out of either of two different positions to present a golf ball in position to be driven, said golf ball support when released being under a normal tendency to depart from said position, means under the control of said golf ball support and re leasable under the driving pressure exerted by said ball for retaining said golf ball support in either of said positions, means for delivering a golf ball to said golf ball supportat a distance from said positions, and means under the control of its own movement away from said positions for returning said golf ball support to presenting position.

5. In an automatic golf t e, the combination with a housing, a golf tee reciprocable in said housing between loading and driving positions, said golf tee being under a normal tendency to remain in loading position, an electric motor for moving said golf tee from loading position to driving position, means for latching said golf tee in driving position, said golf tee being provided with means actuated by a golf balldrive-n therefrom for releasing said latching means, and means operated by the movement of said golf tee for controlling the energizing circuit of said electric motor.

6. In an automatic golf tee, the coinbination with a vertical housing, of a golf tee reciprocable in said housing, means for latching said golf tee in its raised position, said golf tee being provided with means under the control of a golf ball driven therefrom for releasing said latching means, an electric motor for elevating said golf tee, and a starting and stopping switch therefor under the control of the rise and fall of said golf tee.

7 In an automatic golf tee, the combination with a vertical housing, of a golf tee re-v ciprocable in said housing, means for latching said golf tee in its raised position, means under the control of a golf ball driven therefrom for releasing said latching means, said golf tee being adapted when released to return to its lowered position, and means for elevating said golf tee, said elevating means including an electric motor and a starting and stopping switch therefor under the control of the rise and fall of said golf tee.

8. In an'automatic golf toe, the combination with a vertical housing, of a golf tee reciprocable in said. housing, a magazine for golf balls arranged to discharge into said. vertical shaft, said golf tee being provided with means for blocking the movement of a golf ball from said magazine when said golf tee is in raised position, means for latching said golf tee in its raised position, said golf tee being provided with means under the control of a golf ball driven therefrom for releasing said latching means, and means for raising and lowering said golf tee.

9. In an automatic golf tee, the combination with a vertical housing, of a golf tee reciprocable in said housing, a magazine for golf balls arranged to discharge into said vertical housing, said golf tee being provided with means for blocking the movement of a golf ball from said magazine when said golf tee is in raised position, means for latching said golf tee in its raised. position, said golf tee being provided with means under the control of a golf ball driven therefrom for releasing said latching means, a cam lever for elevating said golf tee, and a powerdriven cam for operating said cam lever.

10. In an automatic golf tee, the combination with a vertical housing, of a golf tee reciprocable in said housing, means for latching said golf tee in its raised position, means under the control of said golf tee for releasing said latching means, a cam-lever for elevating said golf tee, a cam for operating said cam-lever, an electric motor for driving said cam, a starting and stopping switch for said motor, an energizing circuit for said motor including said switch, and means carried by said cam-lever for operating said switch.

11. In an automatic golf tee, the combination with a vertical housing, of a golf tee support reciprocable in said housing, a golf tee pivoted to said golf tee support and adapted to be upset by a golf ball driven therefrom, and means for latching said golf tee support in its raised position, said golf tee being adapted by its upsetting movement to release said latching means.

12. In an autoiiatie golf tee, the combina tion with a vertical housing, of a golf tee reciprocable in said housing, a magazine for golf balls arranged to deliver a golf ball to said golf tee in lowered position, a cam-lever for moving said golf tee to raised position, means for 12 t 1 0 said golf tee in its raised position, in s for releasing said latching means, a cam for operating said cam-shaft, an electric motor for driving said cam, a starting and stopping switch ror said motor, an energizing circuit for said motor including said switch, means carried by said camshaft for operating said switch, and a motorbraking device opeii'atably connected to said cam-lever.

13. In an automatic golf ball toe, the combination with a vertically-reciprocable support, of a golf tee pivotally mounted on said support, a cam-lever comprising one arm movably engaging said vertically-reciprocable support and a cam-arm, a double cam comprising high and low portions for alternatively actuating said cam-arm, and latches for releasably locking said support and golf tee in different raised positions corresponding respectively to the high and low portions of said cam, each of said latches being releasable by the pivotal movement of said golf ee.

let. In an automa i golf ball tee, the combination with a v2 ally-reeiprocable support, of a golf pivotally mounted on said support, means for raising said support to different vertical positions, and latches for releasably locking said support and golf tee in said different vertical positions, each of said latches being releasaliilo by the pivotal movement of said golf tee,

15. In an automatic golf ball tee, the combination with a vertically-reciprocable support, of a golf tee pivotally mounted on said support, a lever for raising said support, latches for releasably locking said support and golf tee in different raised positions corresponding to different throws imparted to said lever, each of said latches being releasable by the pivotal movement of said golf tee when it is upset by driving a golf ball therefrom, an oscillatory rod for predetermining the degree of movement imparted. to said lever, one of said latches being held in inoperative position by said oscillatory shaft.

16. In an automatic golf ball toe, the combination with a vertically-reciprocable support, of a golf tee pivotally mounted on said support, a slide reciprocable on said support by the pivotal movement of said golf tee, means for raising said vertically-reciprocable support into different vertical positions, and latches for releasably locking said support and golf tee in said different vertical positions corresponding respectively to desired elevations of the golf balls, either of said latches being releasable by the reciprocable movement of said slide when moved by the upset of said golf tee.

17. In an automatic golf ball toe, the combination with a vertically-reciprocable support, of a golf tee pivotally mounted on said support, a cam-lever comprising one arm movably engaging said vertically reciprocable support and another cam-actuated arm, camshaft, a double cam splined to said cam-shaft and comprising high and low portions, an oscillatory shaft for imparting an axial shift to said double-cam for alternatively arranging the high or low portion thereof to operate upon said cam-arm, and latches for releasably locking said support and golf tee in different raised positions corresponding respectively to the displacements imparted to said cam-lever by the high and low portions of said cam, each of said latches being releasable by the pivotal movement of said golf tee 18. In an automatic golf ball toe, the combination with a vertically-reciprocable support, of a golf tee pivotally mounted on said support, a chute for golf balls arranged to deliver a golf ball to said tee in lowered position, a stop carried by said support for retaining the balls in said chute in the raised position of said support, a cam-lever comprising one arm movably engaging said vertically-reciprocable support and a cam-arm, a cam-shaft, a double cam keyed to said camshaft and comprising high and low portions, an oscillatory shaft for imparting an endwise shift to said cam-shaft for alternatively arranging the high or low portion of the cam to operate upon said cam-arm, a motor for driving said cam-shaft, an energizing circuit for said motor including a starting and. stopping switch operated by said can1lever on its downward movement to start said motor and on its upward movement to stop said motor, latches for releasably locking said support and golf tee in different raised positions corresponding respectively to the high and. low portions of said cam, each of said latches being releasable by the pivotal movement of said. golf tee, and an automatic brake for said motor operated by the golf tee raising movement of said cam-lever.

GEQRGE J. BROCKHAGEN. 

